Bench commemorates war hero

Kenneth Christie, 71, was tracked down following a campaign in the Stockport Express to find relatives of a Bramhall war hero known as 'The Lone Bomber' so his achievement in winning the VC could be properly commemorated.

Kenneth Christie (right) with Norman Harrisand Henry Garrodd, both former army colleagues of John Alexander Christie

A SON had spoke of his 'immense pride' after a bench was dedicated to mark the achievements of his Victoria Cross winning father in Bramhall Hall Park.

Kenneth Christie, 71, was tracked down following a campaign in the Stockport Express to find relatives of a Bramhall war hero known as 'The Lone Bomber' so his achievement in winning the VC could be properly commemorated.

The Bomber - real name Lance Corporal John Alexander Christie, know as Jock - was awarded the VC for 'conspicuous bravery' in 1917, but until the weekend there had been no lasting Stockport tribute to his heroic actions.

John Evans, of the Royal Green Jackets Association, led the campaign for the memorial and after getting the council on board was able to unveil the special bench in Bramhall Park on Sunday in front of Ken and his 10-year-old grandson Andrew over 40 years since the death of Jock.

Ken, who now lives in Bristol but grew up in Stockport, said: "I am as proud as punch! I hold my father in the highest esteem - he was one hell of a character and very modest.

"We grew up close to Bramhall Park on Carrwood Avenue, the park has always been part of my life, we used to go sledging there in the winter and I remember walking there with my father when I was very young.

"So it is extremely gratifying to have this permanent memorial to him."

The bench has the words from the Victoria Cross 'For Valor' inscribed on either end and Ken was joined by John, and some of Jock's army colleagues for the memorial service.,

Jock was awarded the VC - the highest military honour, after a mission he undertook in December 1917 when he found himself alone at Bald Hall, Fejja, in what was then Palestine.

But instead of surrendering to the advancing German soldiers, he ran 50 yards in the open to single-handedly stop the enemy counter-attack, armed only with a handful of bombs.

An article in the London Gazette of February 1918 described Christie as showing 'the greatest coolness and a total disregard for his own safety' and his bravery earned him his nickname, The Lone Bomber, as well as the VC.

He went on to become a sales manager for a wine merchants after the war, and died in Bramhall on September 10, 1967.

Kenneth added: "My father was always extremely reticent to speak about the war and the VC, it was a closed book as far as he was concerned, it was his duty, he had been recognised for his part and he wanted to move on.

"He had lost a lot of great friends in the war."

John, 70, from Baguley, Wytheshawe, who campaigned for memorials for VC winners for more than 10 years, added: "I thought it was about time that we did something about it."

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